Mitchell Hamline School of Law is seeking to hire a full-time Leadership and Annual Giving Officer. This position works closely with the Director of Philanthropy to plan and implement annual fundraising strategies through direct mail appeals, online giving, monthly giving, and events. As a critical team member of the Office of Advancement, this role develops and implements a comprehensive strategy to acquire new donors and cultivate existing donors toward increased investments, in order to…
advance the vision of a legal system that is just and accessible to all. Annual Giving Strategy and Execution
Lead the development and implementation of annual giving campaigns, including class giving, Giving Day, and reunion fundraising initiatives.
Build pipelines from annual giving to mid-level and major gift prospects by identifying and cultivating annual donors with capacity for increased support.
Coordinate with Donor Stewardship Senior Specialist and Director of Advancement Services for donor segmentation, campaign appeal execution, and reporting.
Oversee annual fund goals, establish benchmarks, and analyze participation/revenue trends to refine strategy.
Collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy and Vice President of Advancement to design creative appeals and new donor acquisition efforts.
Donor Engagement & Portfolio Management
Manage an active portfolio of approximately 50 entry- and mid-level individual donors and prospects.
Develop and execute solicitation and stewardship strategies focused on donor acquisition, retention, and upgrading donors into higher giving tiers.
Conduct personal outreach through phone calls, emails, and direct meetings to build meaningful donor relationships.
Donor Stewardship and Recognition
Collaborate with the Donor Stewardship Senior Specialist to coordinate robust stewardship programs for annual donors, mid-level donors, and volunteers.
Manage donor recognition programs and develop giving societies to increase donor loyalty and lifetime value.
Address donor inquiries regarding fund use and ensure compliance with donor intent in collaboration with finance and advancement services staff.
Design creative stewardship opportunities to thank and engage donors at all levels.
Other Responsibilities
Performs other duties as assigned to support donor engagement, campaign initiatives, or advancement strategy.
Secondary Activities
Collaboration with vendors on print/mail production and design
Coordination of stewardship for multi-donor or class gift funds
Participation in campaign planning and donor readiness efforts
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Deep understanding of annual fund principles, donor intent, and philanthropic accountability
Proven communication skills, including written, in person, and over the phone; communicates effectively with a diverse group of donors (alumni) and collaborates with staff across departments
Experience with Raiser's Edge or similar CRM platforms; strong data hygiene and querying skills
Excellent project management skills with a strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to handle sensitive donor interactions with professionalism and discretion
Working knowledge of FERPA, charitable gift regulations, and ethical fundraising standards
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree
2+ years of experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit fundraising, including direct donor solicitation, or the equivalent
Preferred Qualifications:
5+ years of progressively responsible experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit fundraising, or the equivalent
Direct mail/annual fund campaign leadership
Experience with pipeline management to drive increases in gift amounts